Data Sheet

WHAT’S HAPPENING
A top spins so fast that as soon
as its weight becomes
unbalanced and it starts to
fall to one side, the imbalance
has spun around to the other
side. As long as it is spinning
fast enough, it’s like the top
is falling to all sides evenly
and therefore it stays
balanced.
HERE’S HOW
1
to
6
Assemble the model.
7
First, without starting the
rotor inside the gyroscope
spinning, try to balance it
on the stand a few times.
8
Insert one of the rip
cords into the slot in
the side of the gyroscope.
Pull the rip cord. Now try
to balance the gyroscope
while the rotor is spinning.
What do you observe?
Gyroscopic forces
YOU WILL NEED
2
1
32
4
5
6
1 74
23
31
16 17 18
24
19 22
29
10 x 1 x 2 x
1 x
2 x 1 x
1 x
1 x
3 x
2 x
1 x
1 x
Stand

Gyroscopes & Flywheels
EXPERIMENT 3